The Evil Guest

Gene Wolfe presents Lovecraftian noir fiction!

The letter from the rich cousin came at a low point in the Marston family's finances. The man was as ill-bred and pushing as ever: utterly the model of a noxious relation -- but he was rich, and the Marstons were all but destitute. The family could hardly refuse him. But they would come to rue that letter, and the invitation that followed it; it was the beginning of the end for all of them. Of course it was! Common sense tells us not to take on . . . THE EVIL GUEST

Step into the eerie world of "The Evil Guest" by Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. This gothic fiction masterpiece is replete with elements of mystery and horror, showcasing Le Fanu's exceptional ability to craft spine-chilling tales. As a prominent work in English literature, it stands as a testament to the allure of the gothic genre and its enduring appeal.

"The Evil Guest" from Joseph Sheridan Le Fanu. Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels (1814-1873).

Today, critics point to the work of Victorian-era horror author J. Sheridan Le Fanu as the pinnacle of suspense writing in the period. With a few subtle turns of phrase, Le Fanu can provoke a response of sheer terror in the minds of readers, working in the same vein that his American contemporary Edgar Allan Poe was able to master. The Evil Guest highlights all of Le Fanu's strengths as a writer, and it's sure to speed the heart of even the most seasoned horror fan.

Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu was an Irish writer of Gothic novels, one of the most influential ghost story writers of the nineteenth century. Filled with mystery, "The Evil Guest" is a murder story set in Victorian era England. It tells a story of Richard Marston, who lives in poverty with his family. His house slowly decays, and moral principles fade away. This decline reaches its critical point when inhabitants of the mansion find Marston's rich cousin dead in one of the rooms. But who committed the murder?

Joseph Thomas Sheridan Le Fanu (28 August 1814 - 7 February 1873) was an Irish writer of Gothic tales and mystery novels. He was a leading ghost story writer of the nineteenth century and was central to the development of the genre in the Victorian era. M. R. James described Le Fanu as "absolutely in the first rank as a writer of ghost stories". Three of his best-known works are Uncle Silas, Carmilla, and The House by the Churchyard.